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RVIA Economic Impact Study

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association commissioned an Economic Impact Study on the RV industry, released on June 7, 2016. The study found that the RV industry contributes about $49.7 billion in economic output or 0.28 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Through its production and distribution linkages, the industry impacts firms in 426 of the 440 sectors of the United States economy.

Nationwide, the industry is responsible for 216,170 jobs, both directly and inderectly, creating an economic impact of $37.5 billion. The full study results, along with each individual state and congressional district's economic impact is available on the website by clicking here .

California RV Parks Increase Occupancies in Spring

Tue Apr 18, 2017

SACRAMENTO, California - RV parks across the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys are experiencing higher occupancies this spring, with some parks reporting record levels of business for this time of year, according to a press release.

“2017 is shaping up to be a very strong year for campgrounds, RV parks and resorts across California,” California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds Executive Director Debbie Sipe says.

“Last year was our best year ever, but this could be our best year yet," says Patrick Stone, who co-owns and operates Mountain Gate RV Park & Cottages in Redding, which he opened 14 years ago. "It’s been really busy.”

Stone says his business was up 15 to 20 percent last year and that so far this year he’s already running 10 to 12 percent ahead of last year’s figures.

“We’re running 80 to 90 percent occupancy on extended stays and for our overnight spots we’re running about 40 to 45 percent occupancy every night," he says. "Normally, at this time of year, it’s about 20 to 25 percent.”

Stone attributed the increasing business in part to stronger snowbird traffic as well as more tourists coming up to Northern California following the winter rains and snows, which have filled area lakes and reservoirs to their highest levels in years.

“We’re starting to see a lot of people come up to go fishing,” he says. "The fish are biting, the bass are biting. We’re pretty optimistic up here.”

Further south, the 197-site French Camp RV Park Resort in Manteca is keeping busy with foreign travelers as well as people who were flooded out of their homes during the recent rains and need a place to stay while they rebuild or repair their homes.

“We’re seeing a lot of foreign travelers from Germany, Japan and the U.K.," says Mary Harris, a French Camp RV Park employee. "They stop here on their way to Yosemite.”

Meanwhile, The Lakes RV & Golf Resort in Chowchilla is also seeing a dramatic increase in its business.

“During the first quarter of this year, we were up about 23 percent over the first quarter last year,” says Steve Huarte, the park’s manager, adding that the Canadians “came down in droves” this past winter.

“A lot of people stop in here because we have complimentary golf when you stay here,” he says, noting that the park has an 18-hole championship golf course. “We have some Canadians that stay here for a month or two at a time.”

The 87-site park also accommodates numerous snowbirds from Oregon and Washington as well as travelers heading to and from Yosemite National Park, which is less than two hours away.

Huarte says his park is busy until July 4 and then business dies down as the valley heats up. But business picks up again after Labor Day when temperatures begin to cool off once again.

“We have a pretty good clientele in construction as well as traveling nurses,” Huarte says. "They help us get through the summer months.”

The 111-site Merced River Resort in Delhi, for its part, is also staying busy this spring.

“We have travelers and we have the worker bees come to work jobs in the area for three to six months,” says Kelly Spratling, a park employee.

Several RV parks in the Bakersfield area are also reporting strong business levels this spring.

While the park mainly caters to long-term guests, it maintains 12 campsites for overnight travelers and “they’ve been full,” Canaliz says.

The 215-site Bakersfield RV Resort in Bakersfield has also been “super busy,” according to Danielle Pearce, a park manager, adding that the park has long term guests as well as travelers heading up and down the state.

The 123-site River Run RV Park in Bakersfield is also reporting an uptick in business this year.